Sting operation targets Norteno gangs

Wednesday

Nov 14, 2012 at 9:38 AMNov 14, 2012 at 9:40 AM

An alarming increase in violent gang activity prompted law-enforcement officials from federal, state and local agencies to join forces in a sting operation dubbed Operation Family Feud, resulting in multiple arrests and weapons seizures Wednesday morning.

The Record

An alarming increase in violent gang activity prompted law-enforcement officials from federal, state and local agencies to join forces in a sting operation dubbed Operation Family Feud, resulting in multiple arrests and weapons seizures Wednesday morning.

Warrants were served in 11 locations – including 10 in Stockton and one in Lathrop, police said. The total number of arrests was not available at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday.

The Stockton Police Department, San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, Manteca Police Department, Lodi Police Department, California Highway Patrol, F.B.I.,U.S. Marshal’s Office, State Department of Justice and the Parole and Corrections team all collaborated in the sting.

“Since 2011, we’ve seen an increase in violence involving the Norteno criminal street gang,” said Officer Joe Silva, a spokesman for the Stockton Police Department. “These gangs have been directly involved with or responsible for many crimes in the city. In June of this year, we launched an operation which was called Operation Family Feud because we’ve seen the Norteno street gangs mostly targeting each other in their criminal activities.”

For reporter Jason Anderson’s updates on this story, follow recordnet.com and see Thursday’s edition of The Record.